PRINCIPALS
He has a proven track record in the minerals industry having founded or directed resource companies that have been acquired by senior mining firms for a combined transaction value of over $1.5 billion.
As a founding member of the Hunter Dickinson Group, Doug and the Hunter Dickinson team created substantial returns on equity capital for investors through the financing and advancement of a number of public, mine development companies including: North American Metals Ltd. (190% return), Continental Gold Corp. (550% return) and El Condor Resources (400% return). He has been involved in a number of large -scale mine development projects including the Mt. Milligan Copper-Gold Project, Kemess South Copper-Gold Mine, Golden Bear Gold Mine and the Legacy Potash Project.
Recently, Doug has provided strategic advice and assisted in key project acquisitions for numerous companies including Terrane Metals Corp, Avanti Mining Inc., MBAC Fertilizer Corp., Calibre Mining Corp. and Edgewater Exploration Ltd. He holds a B.Sc. (1981) and M.Sc. (1984) in Geological Sciences from the University of British Columbia, Canada and is a registered member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.
Blayne refined his financial engineering skill set at First Marathon, working with a highly capable group of traders, corporate finance experts, and salesmen. As a Vice President in their Vancouver office, Blayne played an integral role in negotiating, structuring and selling many of the most successful deals of the 1990 – 1996 resource cycle. These included, Bema Gold, Arequipa, Aber Diamonds (now Harry Winston) Diamond Fields as well as others.
During his time at the firm, his team was largely responsible for the institutionalization and professionalization of the junior mining industry in North America, participating in over $5 billion worth of equity financings for natural resource companies.
Blayne managed his own investment and real estate portfolio for a few years before founding Featherstone Capital in 2002.
Recently, Blayne has provided strategic advice and assisted in key project acquisitions for numerous companies including Terrane Metals Corp, Avanti Mining Inc., MBAC Fertilizer Corp., Calibre Mining Corp. and Edgewater Exploration Ltd.
PARTNERS
GEORGE SALAMIS
EDGEWATER EXPLORATION President & CEO, Director
Mr. Salamis has previously held senior management positions with well-established mining & mining exploration companies, most notably Placer Dome Inc. and Cameco Corporation, in addition to his successful formation and management of several junior mining companies listed in Europe and North America. Mr. Salamis has over 20 years experience directing the exploration, development and mining operations of a number of gold, base metal and coal projects in many different regions of the world. In recent years, he has also played an integral role, both executive and non-executive, in several large M&A transactions valued at over $US 1 billion and significant financing initiatives, raising over $US 800 million in equity financing for various resource companies. Mr. Salamis holds a degree in Geology from the Universite de Montreal – Ecole Polytechnique.
CRAIG NELSEN
AVANTI MINING President & CEO, Director
Mr. Nelsen is the President, CEO, and Director of Avanti, and he currently serves as a Director of New Gold Inc. (since June 2008). He was the founder, CEO and Chairman of Metallica Resources Inc. (from 1994 to 2008). He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of that company from 1994 to 1999. In June 2008, a three-company merger between Metallica, Peak Gold, and New Gold Inc. was finalized, forming the new, larger gold producer known as New Gold Inc., listed on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and American Stock Exchange. Mr. Nelsen served as the Executive Vice-President, Exploration, for Gold Fields Limited (from 1999 to June 2007), one of the world’s largest gold mining companies, listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange in South Africa and also on the New York Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, Euronext in Paris and Brussels and the SWX Swiss Exchange. Mr. Nelsen holds a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology from the University of Montana.
Amjad J. (“AJ”) Ali
AVANTI Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Ali is the Chief Financial Officer of Avanti. He is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years experience in the mining industry. Most recently, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Centenario Copper Corporation, a company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Previously, Mr. Ali was the Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of EuroZinc Mining Corporation (2004 to 2006), a public company listed on both the Toronto and American Stock Exchanges. Mr. Ali was the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Resource 21 (1998 to 2003), a subsidiary of Boeing, formed to produce satellite-based imaging data and information services primarily for the agricultural industry. Mr. Ali was the Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Vista Gold Corp. (1992 to 1998), a public company listed on the Toronto and American Stock Exchanges. He was a director of Centenario Copper Corporation before its acquisition by Quadra Mining. Prior to the merger of Peak Gold, Metallica Resources and New Gold Inc., Mr. Ali served as the Director and the chair of the Audit Committee of Metallica Resources Inc. Mr. Ali is also a member of the Financial Executives International and the Institute of Corporate Directors.
EDWARD FARRAUTO
RAYSTAR CAPITAL Chief Executive Officer
PINECREST RESOURCES Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
During the past nineteen years Mr. Farrauto has been involved in public companies in the capacity of chief financial officer and director. Mr. Farrauto has led and coordinated compliance and regulatory operations, completed several reverse takeovers, and been involved in over $475 million of equity and debt financings with companies in the mineral, oil and gas, entertainment and technology sectors including Terrane Metals Corp., MBAC Fertilizer Corp., Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. and Radiant Communications Corp.
Mr. Farrauto is a CGA and is currently the Chief Financial Officer and a Director of Edgewater Exploration Ltd. (2007 to present) a Director of Calibre Mining Corp. (2003 to present), Chief Executive Officer, CFO and Director of Pinecrest Resources Ltd. (2010 to present), Chief Executive Officer, CFO and Director of Raystar Capital Ltd. (1998 to present) and a Director of Philippine Metals Inc. (2010 to present).
